The United States has the largest prison population on earth today, and this is because it's got a problem with overcriminalization and it refuses to acknowledge that the drug war was a bad idea; one that should've been abandoned long ago.

And at a time when there are stories being frequently shared across the media, demonstrating an issue with police and their ugly habit of executing justice on the streets rather than in a court room, the last thing that you would think you'd want to do is boost that web of criminalization.

Why? Because when you increase criminalization, you give law enforcement even more reasons to harass, kidnap, and ultimately kill people. Because every time that a new law is passed, what that ultimately means is that someone might lose their life if they don't comply with that law.

Is it really about safety?...Or is it about control ?

Is it really because children might find menthol cigarettes more appealing and they need to protect those children from that unhealthy habit? Because that group (government) which is claiming to be doing this “for their safety,” will then turn around and prevent and deny those same children their freedom to consume cannabis if it can heal a disease or illness of theirs. That same group will also endorse the frequent medication of those children with pharmaceuticals, that are known to promote a myriad of negative side effects. They also continue to fuel a foreign policy that risks blow-back and therefore creates a potential threat against the people and their well-being.

And let us never forget that they've got a monetary policy that's structured in such a way that it enslaves people to continue paying a compounding, inescapable debt. But, “they care” we're told. It's “for our safety” they tell us, again and again.

San Francisco has already made the move to ban menthol flavoured cigarettes from being sold in the city. And other cities have also followed in doing the same thing. New Jersey might soon become the first state to ban the products entirely.

Do more cages really need to be filled, tickets given, and people potentially shot over menthol cigarettes?

It's assumed that by banning the product that it will likely prompt the smokers to quit the habit but that might not be the case. Several years ago when menthol smokers were asked what they would do if their favourite product was banned, about 35 percent said they'd consider quitting. However, those smokers were already considering quitting before any ban on the menthol cigarettes.

And for the others, many said that they wouldn't let the ban stop them. About 25 percent said that they would search for a way, look to the black market to get what they need.

By striving to create some sort of risk-free environment, alleging to protect children by keeping menthol cigarettes out of their hands, the government will continue to criminalize more and more. We should already be well aware that we cannot eliminate all risk and it shouldn't be their responsibility or occupation to keep people safe from themselves. Freedom involves allowing people to be free to make their own choices.

The new criminalization efforts are being put forth as something that will save lives but what they might actually end-up doing is causing the deaths of those who are engaged in nonviolent activity; who get caught with some menthol cigarettes.

Pics:
Alamy via Metro
Simpsons via Instagram
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Sources:
http://6abc.com/politics/nj-could-be-first-state-to-ban-menthol-cigarettes/3072153/
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/06/san-francisco-big-tobacco-set-for-a-showdown-over-flavored-products.html
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-s-battle-over-flavored-tobacco-heats-up-12172353.php
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22471735
https://www.ozy.com/opinion/the-racially-targeted-tobacco-crackdown-coming-to-a-city-near-you/85409
http://www.njherald.com/article/20180320/AP/303209849
http://news.wbfo.org/post/new-jersey-considers-ban-what-sets-menthol-cigarettes-apart-other-varieties